Kimberley Clark, City Clerk
City of Burbank
275 East Olive Avenue
Burbank, California 91502
Dear Madam City Clerk:
Our organization is writing to request that the City Clerk’s Office provide early, frequent, and neutral public notice regarding the upcoming ballot measure on by-district City Council elections.
In our past telephone conversation on this topic, you stated unequivocally that you opposed by-district City Council elections. You also stated many times you serve all of Burbank’s residents regardless of party. I believe you and would like to take this opportunity to outline what we believe is the right thing to do during this election cycle and beyond.
Our organization is informed, and based on information and belief understands that multiple members of the current Burbank City Council are in favor of by-district City Council elections.
We have made the argument many times that very low voter turnout in Burbank is caused by voter confusion, lack of education regarding the importance of elections at the public schools, and a number of other factors that turn off voters, especially younger voters.
By-district elections is one of the most important local governance questions Burbank voters will be asked to decide. It is not a routine ballot item. Voters are being asked whether Burbank should continue electing all City Council members citywide or move to a by-district system in which voters in each district elect their own Council member.
Voters have an inherent civic right to sufficient notice, sufficient time, and clear neutral information before they are asked to decide a question of this importance.
Our request is not that the City advocate for either side. Our request is that the City Clerk’s Office provide repeated neutral public information explaining what Burbank’s current at-large City Council election system is, what would change if the measure passes, what would remain the same if the measure does not pass, that Burbank Unified School District already uses trustee-area elections, that many California cities already use district-based or trustee-area elections for both city councils and school boards, and that the measure will directly affect how neighborhoods are represented at City Hall.
Burbank voters should not first be hearing about this near the end of the election cycle. They should hear about it early, repeatedly, and neutrally.
The City has often used comparisons to other cities when helping residents understand major public issues. This issue deserves the same treatment. The comparison should be simple, accurate, and neutral.
The relevant comparison is not whether another city has a directly elected mayor. Burbank does not elect its mayor directly. The relevant comparison is whether other California cities use geographic district representation for both City Council elections and school-board elections.
That accuracy makes the comparison stronger, not weaker.
Burbank and California cities using district-based local representation
Burbank — City Council currently elected at-large; Burbank Unified School District already uses trustee-area elections.
Examples of California cities where both the City Council and the local school board use district-based or trustee-area elections include:
- Antioch
- Carlsbad
- Chino
- Chino Hills
- Compton
- Cypress
- Fullerton
- Hemet
- Inglewood
- Madera
- Novato
- Oceanside
- Pasadena
- Petaluma
- Pomona
- Porterville
- Redlands
- San Marcos
- San Rafael
- Santa Rosa
- Torrance
- Upland
- Vacaville
- Vallejo
- Visalia
- Vista
- Whittier
The important point is simple: many California cities already use geographic district representation for both city-council elections and school-board elections. Burbank already uses trustee-area elections for its Board of Education, but still elects all City Council members citywide.
That is a compelling public-information fact. It should be shared with voters neutrally and repeatedly.
The City previously used visible public-information tools during the districting process, including public notices and other reminders. We respectfully ask that similar energy be used now for voter education on the actual ballot measure.
Please consider using every ordinary neutral channel available to the City Clerk’s Office, including the City website, election pages, email notices, public notices, social media reminders, press releases, agenda announcements, on-hold phone message recordings, City Council meeting preambles, and any other lawful voter-information channels.
This decision belongs to the voters. The voters should be given every fair opportunity to understand it early and often.
Yours sincerely,
The Burbank Republican Party